State, national races featured in primary election

Local elections are sparse for 2010, but Perry County voters will have their hands full with all the state and national elections taking place in the May 18 primary.

Longtime U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter faces a tough fight for the Democratic nomination against current U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak.

On the Republican side, former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey will battle former gubernatorial hopeful Peg Luksik for the party's nomination.

Speaking of gubernatorial races, 2010 will be the year a new governor is selected, after eight years with Ed Rendell at the state helm.

Much of the county is sure to pay close attention to the Republican side of the governor's race where they will decide between current state Attorney General Tom Corbett and state Rep. Samuel Rohrer.

Democrats have a bigger field and will pick either Dan Onorato, Allegheny County executive; Jack Wagner, auditor general; state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams; or Joseph Hoeffel, former member of the U.S. House.

The only local contests this year is for a Republican State Committee seat, sought by former state Rep. Fred Noye and Emily Ulrich, a member of the county Republican Committee; and the 86th state House district race between incumbent Mark Keller and challenger Michael Lapp.